Arbitrage (Arb)
Betting both sides of a market at different sportsbooks to guarantee a profit regardless of outcome.
Arbitrage (arbing) exploits pricing differences between sportsbooks. When one book has significantly different odds than another on the same event, you can bet both sides and guarantee a profit no matter what happens.
True arbitrage opportunities are risk-free by definition, but they come with practical challenges: odds can change before you place both bets, sportsbooks may limit or ban accounts that consistently arb, and the profits per event are typically small (1-3%).
While pure arbitrage is difficult to sustain as a primary strategy, the underlying skill of line shopping — finding the best available odds — is valuable for all bettors and can significantly improve long-term results.
Example
Book A has Team X at +160. Book B has Team Y at -140. Betting $100 on X at Book A and $120 on Y at Book B guarantees ~$5 profit regardless of who wins.
Related Terms
Vig (Vigorish)
The commission a sportsbook charges on a bet, built into the odds.
Free Bet
A promotional bet from a sportsbook where you risk nothing but keep the profit if you win.
Sharp (Sharp Bettor)
A professional or highly skilled bettor whose action influences line movement.
Closing Line Value (CLV)
The difference between the odds you bet at and the final odds at market close.
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